Apps in this Guide

A best password manager ups your password security by creating good passwords and keeping your saved passwords safe in a password vault.

A best password manager ups your password security by creating good passwords and keeping your saved passwords safe in a password vault.

Are your passwords short? Do they include only letters or numbers? Are they made up of your name or birthdate? Even if you complicate your recommended nine character-plus passwords with upper-case letters and special characters, you may still be using a common pattern that's easily identified by hackers' sophisticated software. And maybe you're not diversifying your passwords enough on the myriad sites you use or changing them regularly, because, after a year, you've finally memorized the one you're using everywhere.

We get it. Passwords, especially a variety of secure ones, are difficult to remember. That's where a good secure password manager, which can manage secure passwords, entire log-ins, credit card info, addresses, your social security number, and more, comes in. Better yet, it can unlock all the sensitive data you protect with a variety of complex passwords, with one master password. Here are our picks for the top five password keepers for iPhone and iPad.

If you need password protection on Android, check out our picks for best password manager for Android here.

5 Best Free Password Managers for iPhone

1Password

AgileBits' 1Password password wallet has a wonderfully minimal interface but is full of options. Sign in with Touch ID, choose which account info to secure, and receive multiple password vaults for storing your data, such as addresses, credit card info, and security questions. These vaults are secured by AES-256 encryption and strong passwords, which 1Password helps you generate, and which are kept only on your device. Auto-updates remind you to change passwords. 1Password syncs data across iCloud, Dropbox, or Wi-Fi with end-to-end encryption to keep your passwords safe, and it works on all browsers. Try it for free for 30 days and then get on a monthly individual ($2.99) or family ($4.99 for up to five people) plan, billed annually.

Dashlane Password Manager

Dashlane has a sleek, modern user interface, a helpful tutorial to get you started, and all the features you'd expect from a top-flight password manager. The app encrypts and stores passwords using the AES-256 standard and, for another layer of security, offers two-factor authentication, letting you verify by text and fingerprint. Dashlane's Password Changer runs a diagnostic on your current passwords to let you know which are weak or generic, then helps you generate stronger passwords. Besides storing passwords, Dashlane stores and encrypts notes, receipts, payment info, and even your IDs, such as your Social Security and passport numbers. Download and use on one device for free or upgrade to the Premium service and use across all your devices for $39.99 per year.

LastPass Password Manager

LastPass offers a wealth of excellent features, such as secure AES-256 encrypted storage for your log-ins, notes, and autofills, which you can access with TouchID, and use across your devices. The app will create secure passwords for you, if you choose, and you can even determine password parameters, such as length and characters used, and even demand they be pronounceable. LastPass is free to start, but you can also upgrade to a premium account and gain access to advanced features, including one-to-many sharing, emergency access, advanced multi-factor options, priority tech support, and 1GB of encrypted file storage for $24 a year for individuals or $48 a year for families (with up to six accounts).

Keeper Password Manager

Keeper lets you manually input your personal info, but you can also snap photos of your sensitive information. Keeper saves it with AES-256 encryption, and you can access it via all the major OSs and browsers. For added security, Keeper enables two-factor authentication by text, QR code, or Keeper DNA for nearby Internet of Things devices, and all encryption and decryption occurs locally on your device. Input your master password just once, and Keeper will autofill your info throughout your session. If an intruder repeatedly tries to log in unsuccessfully, your locally stored files will self-destruct. Start for free, and after 30 days, pay $29.99 for an individual account with unlimited password storage, cloud backup, syncing across devices, and secure sharing; Touch ID; the Web app; and round-the-clock tech support. A family account for up to five people also tacks on 10GB secure file storage and costs $59.99 per year.

RoboForm

RoboForm offers dual protection with a PIN (or Touch ID or Face ID) and a master password for all your log-ins (even multistep log-ins), addresses, financial data, and more, so you can access them securely when online shopping, for example. The password generator created excellent passwords for us, according to password-strength detection sites. Your data is protected with AES-256 encryption and stored, depending on your preference, locally or in the cloud. If you want to add the ability to sync data across all your devices, share securely, gain premium support, and more, then you'll want to purchase a RoboForm Everywhere subscription, which costs $19.95, annually.